Update on the Effects of a Sierran Wildfire on Surface Runoff Water Quality

Wildfire has been shown to increase the short‐term (1–3 yr) mobilization of mineral N and P in forest ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe Basin. The ensuing effects on tributary and lake water quality are uncertain. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the impacts on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of environmental quality 2013-07, Vol.42 (4), p.1185-1195
Main Authors: Miller, W. W., Johnson, D. W., Gergans, N., Carroll‐Moore, E. M., Walker, R. F., Cody, T. L., Wone, B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Combustion
Ecosystem
Ecosystems
Fires
Forest & brush fires
Forest ecosystems
Lake basins
Lakes
Mountains
Nutrient concentrations
Nutrient loading
Nutrients
Postal & delivery services
Prescribed fire
River ecology
Runoff
Surface runoff
Tributaries
Vegetation
Water
Water Movements
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Water Quality
Wildfires
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Summary:Wildfire has been shown to increase the short‐term (1–3 yr) mobilization of mineral N and P in forest ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe Basin. The ensuing effects on tributary and lake water quality are uncertain. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the impacts on runoff water quality over an intermediate time frame of 5 yr (2002–2007) after a wildfire event. Our design included fixed plots randomly placed within burned and unburned areas. Because each plot was sampled repeatedly during the study, we treated plots as repeated random effects in the analysis. We used a mixed model approach to analyze nutrient runoff concentrations and load for NH4+–N, NO−3N, and P in phosphate form (designated as ortho P or PO43−–P) where treatment (unburned vs. burned), time (pre‐wildfire, post‐wildfire year 1, year 2, etc.), and their interaction were fixed effects. Concentrations and loads of mineral N and P were higher in runoff from the burned areas immediately after wildfire. Because high water years may also contribute to higher runoff nutrient concentrations and loading, a wildfire followed by a high water year within the first season after a wildfire would likely have a much greater impact on runoff (and hence tributary) water quality than a wildfire followed by a low runoff water year.
ISSN:0047-2425
1537-2537
DOI:10.2134/jeq2012.0472